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About PHF

Our Vision of Advancing

Medical Discovery

Our mission is to fund biomedical research and innovations on the Oklahoma Health Center campus that save and enhance human lives. 

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We aim to achieve our mission by focusing on three strategic goals.

Funding

We support the most promising early-stage research happening at OUHSC and OMRF with the goal of elevating the quality of the research, available programming and the entire biomedical research enterprise. 

Communicating

We work to enhance communication with all of our partners to ensure what we are funding has potential for moving from the laboratory to our doctors offices.

Measuring

We measure and review our research impact data through annual reports by identifying, refining and cataloging outcomes data to ensure our grant dollars ultimately aim for additional funding.

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Our Guiding Tenets

These guiding tenets provide vision, focus, actionability, accountability, and a model for continuous improvement in the funded programs of PHF and its medical research partnering agencies.

Partnerships

We succeed when our partners succeed. We fund both the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), enabling research that brings discovery to medical treatments.

Financial Sustainability

We aim to generate financial returns on investments and mitigate financial risk. We also partner with, or invest in, strategic capital partners, private equity funds, and others who support our mission to advance biomedical research.

Sustainable Governance

Our board committees ensure stability, accountability, and security. Because we are associated with the biomedical industry, it's crucial that we exist in transparency with our partners and investors.

Celebration

When discoveries are made thanks to funding we have awarded for a scientific and medical breakthrough, we celebrate. Why? Because these discoveries are hard earned, and taking time to appreciate the work and collaboration needed to make it happen is an integral part of the discovery process. 

Our Board

Our Board

Tom R. Gray, III

Tom R. Gray, III
Chairman of the Board

Carl Edwards

Carl Edwards
Chairman Emeritus

Rick McCune
Rick McCune
President of PHF,
Board Member
Mike Joseph
Mike Joseph
Grants Committee Chair,
Board Member
David Rainbolt
David Rainbolt
Governance Committee Chair, Board Member
Rainey Williams
Rainey Williams
Finance & Investment Committee Chair, Board Member
Jimmy Ballard, PhD
Jimmy Ballard, PhD
Board Member
Bill Barnes, MD
Bill Barnes, MD
Board Member
Christy Everest
Christy Everest
Board Member
Davis Hudiburg

Davis Hudiburg
Board Member

Stacie Rougas, MD

Stacie Rougas, MD
Board Member

Sally Starling

Sally Starling
Board Member

Jerry Vannatta, MD

Jerry Vannatta, MD
Board Member, Scientific Advisory Director

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Judith James, MD, PhD

Advisory Board Member

Our Staff

Jodi Coats
Jodi Coats
Grants and Programs Associate
April Stuart
April Stuart
Director of Grants and Programs
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Amanda Vermillion
Chief Financial Officer
Our Staff
PHF Board
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